| The American troops, who were based in | | | | Coca Cola was a mainstay in the American |
| Vanuatu, (New Hebrides) during World War II, | | | | troop's diet, with several bottles per person, being |
| littered the tropical islands with what is known as | | | | consumed every day. Because of the difficulty in |
| the leftovers of 'No Trade-Mark Coca Cola | | | | keeping up the supply to the troops, Coca Cola |
| bottles.' The well known artist, Faith Hodder, now | | | | bottles were shipped out from America and filled |
| has a 'no trade mark' coca cola corner in her | | | | in Vanuatu, from a temporary Coca Cola factor. |
| tropical garden. | | | | Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Solomon US troops |
| More than American 25, 000 troops were | | | | were supplied with their daily rations of soft drink. |
| stationed on the main island, Efate, during World | | | | The majority of the bottles however, had no |
| War II and a further 100,000 troops were housed | | | | trademark. The South Pacific has been left with |
| on the neighbouring island of Santo. It was their | | | | the unique phenomenon of thousands of |
| task to halt the push by Japanese troops through | | | | remnants of broken Coca Cola bottles with no |
| the islands of South Pacific. | | | | trade marks on them. The reason this happened |
| Outside Port Vila's Aero Club at, you can see the | | | | is not totally clear. |
| remnants of a downed US World War II aircraft. | | | | Just as quickly as the Americans appeared, they |
| "He had been throwing wrapped lollies from his | | | | suddenly disappeared. The Coca Cola factory also |
| cockpit to some children in one of the villages, | | | | disappeared with the troops. There were aborted |
| explained 74 year old Wallace Andre, witness to | | | | attempts at trying to burn some of the |
| the incident. "Maybe the pilot lost concentration, as | | | | thousands of Coca Cola bottles. |
| he hit a tree." "Unfortunately both pilots died soon | | | | Vanuatu is the 'Must See' travel adventure |
| afterwards." | | | | destination of the South Pacific, Coca cola. |